Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard announces cancer diagnosis, stresses importance of early detection
Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer, he announced Wednesday in a Facebook post.
Pollard wrote that after experiencing pain following a workout, a subsequent ultrasound determined surgery was necessary and his right testicle was removed last week. Further testing revealed it was cancerous.
"This past Monday I had a CT scan and additional bloodwork," Pollard wrote. "My wife, Ellen, and I met with the urologist (who performed my surgery) in the afternoon and learned the cancer had not spread from the original site.
"Furthermore my bloodwork (i.e. tumor markers) was still testing normal. Both of those results were welcome news!"
Pollard wrote that he will visit an oncologist later this week to discuss treatment options, which may include monitoring bloodwork, periodic CT scans, chemotherapy or radiation.
"I hope that I have limited the extent of my cancer through early detection and treatment," Pollard wrote. "I am grateful for the doctors and medical providers here in Ames, who have been incredibly accessible and responsive to my case.
"Furthermore, my loving, and faithful family and a few co-workers and friends who knew of my condition have been incredibly supportive and encouraging the past several days."
Pollard has been Iowa State's athletic director since 2005. He is currently a member of the NCAA men's basketball tournament selection committee and the president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.
This is the second time Pollard has publicly dealt with health issues. He underwent triple bypass heart surgery in 2015 after a heart attack.
"When I had open-heart surgery in 2015, it allowed me to encourage others battling similar heart issues," Pollard wrote. "By sharing some details of my cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, I can emphasize the critical importance of early detection as it relates to cancer survival rates."
Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard announces cancer diagnosis
